Mwanza Intervention Trials Unit

The Mwanza Intervention Trials Unit (MITU), based at the Tanzanian National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR) campus in Mwanza, is a collaborative research unit of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) and NIMR.

The mission of MITU is to contribute to improving health through the development and evaluation of interventions against HIV and other health problems by conducting research, including clinical trials, to the highest international standards; to enhance the capacity to carry out such research in Tanzania and the East African region; and to contribute to the translation of research findings into health policy.

MITU recognises that most health problems are caused by a complex interplay of multiple biological and social causes. As a result, the Unit promotes the pursuit of multidisciplinary research, applying both qualitative and quantitative research methods. To date, MITU has carried out a series of ground breaking research studies on the epidemiology and control of HIV and related infections, and other public health problems of importance in Tanzania and beyond. MITU particularly focusses on randomised controlled trials of preventive interventions. MITU research during the past nine years has included studies of the safety, immunogenicity and delivery of vaccines against human papillomavirus; strategies to improve the health system response against non-communicable diseases; the epidemiology of alcohol use and misuse; the impact of micro-finance and participatory gender training on physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence and empowerment; and the safety and immunogenicity of a promising vaccine candidate to prevent viral haemorrhagic fever.

MITU’s ground breaking studies on HIV prevention and related topics are widely recognised by the international scientific community and have directly influenced local and international health policies. They are also committed to building capacity in Tanzania and the East African region to carry out research to international standards, and are developing local scientific leadership. They have developed very close working relationships with local and national government leaders, as well as with the communities in which we conduct our research.

In January 2015, SHARE formally welcomed MITU as a partner for our second phase (2015-2018). MITU brought expertise in helminthic infections control, and an interest in hand hygiene as part of that process.